Crawley and Compton Put Kent on Top Against Northamptonshire

Zak Crawley and Ben Compton shared an unbroken 154-run opening stand to put Kent in a strong position against Northamptonshire on the first day of their County Championship Division Two match. Crawley finished unbeaten on 82 and Compton was 51 not out, with Northamptonshire still waiting to bat. The ECB Reporters' Network, carried by BBC Sport, reported that only 36 overs were possible at Wantage Road.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=effQbCIVABY

Torrential morning rain delayed the start until 4.15pm after Northamptonshire had chosen to field. Kent entered the match second in Division Two, four points ahead of third-placed Northamptonshire, giving the head-to-head contest direct importance in the promotion race. Despite the shortened day and movement for the seamers, the visitors reached stumps without losing a wicket.

Crawley registered his second successive Championship half-century and his highest score of the season. He struck 12 fours and one six, reaching 50 from 74 deliveries with a push into the off side against leg-spinner Yuzi Chahal. Crawley then advanced down the pitch to hit Chahal over midwicket for six before taking three cover boundaries from Ben Sanderson's later spell.

The innings was not without difficult moments for the former England opener. Sanderson repeatedly found movement from the David Capel End, beat Crawley's bat and made a strong leg-before appeal when the batter had 16. Chahal also beat Crawley several times, but Northamptonshire could not convert those testing passages into a breakthrough.

Compton began more cautiously and completed his half-century from 108 balls in the final over. He was dropped on 17 when Nathan McSweeney could not hold a low chance at fourth slip off Sanderson. Compton later survived an enthusiastic leg-before appeal from Calvin Harrison on 44, with replays indicating that the ball struck him outside the line, before reaching 51 with seven fours.

Northamptonshire used Sanderson, Liam Guthrie, Luke Procter, Chahal, James Sales and Harrison in search of the opening wicket. They also made an unsuccessful request to change the ball. Kent's 154 without loss represents a productive start, but the weather disruption means most of the first innings remains to be played and Northamptonshire have yet to begin their reply.